ABSTRACT
The effects of thiamin deficiency during pregnancy and/or lactation on brain cholinergic system in rat pups were studied. Dietary rehabilitation for a period of 5 weeks from the 28th day was instituted to study possible 'catch-up' in the brain acetylcholine levels. Brain acetylcholine level was found to be significantly decreased on the 21st and 28th days in pups of the dams fed thiamin deficient diet during gestation and lactation, whereas it was decreased on the 28th day in pups of the dams fed thiamin deficient diet during lactation. Activities of cholinergic enzymes remained unaltered in both the deficient groups. Subsequent dietary rehabilitation was found to reverse the deficits in brain acetylcholine levels.
Subject(s)
Acetylcholine/metabolism , Acetylcholinesterase/metabolism , Brain/growth & development , Thiamine Deficiency/complications , Animals , Body Weight , Brain/metabolism , Female , Lactation , Organ Size , Pregnancy , RatsABSTRACT
The two groups of leprosy patients were compared with normal for the evaluation of the functional status of the autonomic nervous system, with the aid of several established procedures. Our findings reveal that in the leprosy patients the adrenergic system is hypo-functional as compared to the cholinergic. Further, in maculoanaesthetic group, there appears to be a physiological Dale's vasomoter reversal when adrenaline was used.
Subject(s)
Autonomic Nervous System/physiopathology , Leprosy/physiopathology , Adult , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Cold Temperature , Epinephrine/pharmacology , Histamine , Humans , Male , Pupil/drug effects , Sensation , Skin Tests , Sweating , Tropanes/pharmacology , Valsalva ManeuverABSTRACT
The two groups of leprosy patients were compared with normal for the evaluation of the functional status of the autonomic nervous system, with the aid of several established procedures. Our findings reveal that in the leprosy patients the adrenergic system is hypo-functional as compared to the cholinergic. Further, in maculoanaesthetic group, there appears to be a physiological Dale's vasomoter reversal when adrenaline was used.
Subject(s)
Male , Humans , Adult , Epinephrine/pharmacology , Leprosy/physiopathology , Histamine , Valsalva Maneuver , Arterial Pressure , Pupil , Autonomic Nervous System/physiopathology , Sweating , Tropanes/pharmacology , Sensation , Cold Temperature , Skin TestsABSTRACT
Three neurotoxic components, enhydrotoxins a, b and c, were isolated by a three step procedure from the venom of the sea snake Enhydrina schistosa, caught in the Arabian sea. The i.v. LD50 values in mice were 0.042, 0.045 and 0.052 mg/kg, respectively. All three toxins irreversibly blocked neuromuscular transmission. Abolition of responses to acetylcholine indicated a post-synaptic site of action of these toxins. The molecular weight and amino acid composition of enhydrotoxin a are similar to values earlier reported for Enhydrina toxins.
Subject(s)
Elapid Venoms/analysis , Toxins, Biological/analysis , Animals , Chickens , Mice , Proteins/analysis , Synaptic Transmission/drug effects , Toxins, Biological/toxicitySubject(s)
Schistosomiasis/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , India , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Schistosoma haematobium , Schistosomiasis/urine , Skin TestsSubject(s)
Snake Venoms/toxicity , Animals , Female , India , Male , Mice , Snake Venoms/immunology , Snake Venoms/radiation effectsSubject(s)
Scorpion Venoms/immunology , Animals , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Female , Male , Mice , Rabbits , Scorpion Venoms/metabolismSubject(s)
Antivenins/immunology , Elapid Venoms/immunology , Animals , Horses/immunology , In Vitro Techniques , India , MiceABSTRACT
The effect of the combination type oral contraceptive and its estrogen (mestranol) and progesterone (ethynodiol diacetate) components on the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), intravenous tolbutamide test (IVTT), serum insulin like activity (ILA) and morphology of beta cells of the pancreas was investigated in female rabbits. The combination produced impairment of glucose tolerance in all animals after 24 weeks treatment. Fifty percent of animals in the estrogen treated group and 33.3 percent of animals in the progesterone treated group developed impairment of glucose tolerance after 24 weeks. A reduction in the glucose response to IVTT was observed in all the animals following 24 weeks treatment with the combination, estrogen or progesterone. A significant decline in fasting serum ILA and post glucose ILA was observed in animals treated with the combination and estrogen. A small but consistent decline in the serum ILA was observed in animals treated with ethynodiol diacetate. A rise in serum FFA paralleled the abnormality of glucose tolerance. Morphological changes in the cytostructure of pancreatic islets in the form of degranulation and degeneration of cells were observed in the pancreas of animals treated with the combination, and to lesser extent in animals treated with estrogen and progesterone. These observations indicate that the disturbances in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism produced by oral contraceptives may be associated with damage to beta cells and low circulating insulin in rabbits.
Subject(s)
Blood Glucose/metabolism , Contraceptives, Oral, Combined/pharmacology , Contraceptives, Oral/pharmacology , Ethynodiol Diacetate/pharmacology , Insulin/blood , Mestranol/pharmacology , Pancreas/drug effects , Animals , Drug Combinations , Fasting , Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/blood , Female , Glucose Tolerance Test , Pancreas/cytology , Rabbits , Tolbutamide/pharmacologySubject(s)
Brain/drug effects , Ethinyl Estradiol/pharmacology , Norgestrel/pharmacology , Phosphotransferases/metabolism , Pyridoxal Kinase/metabolism , gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism , 4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase/metabolism , Animals , Brain/enzymology , Contraceptives, Oral, Combined , Female , Glutamate Decarboxylase/metabolism , RatsABSTRACT
A radiometric method, based on inhibition of 14CO2 release from bacterial metabolism of C-14-labeled glucose, was applied to test the susceptibility of urinary organisms to antibiotics. The testing was also carried out by the routine disc diffusion method after isolation of the organisms. Results of susceptibility to antibiotics could be obtained within 2 to 4 hr by the radiometric technique, compared with the 48 hr required for the disc method.
